In an interview with i24 News on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he is “very attached” to the vision of a “Greater Israel.”
The term is understood to refer to an expansionist concept of Israeli territory that includes East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights and parts of other neighboring Arab countries.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said it completely rejected the “settlement and expansionist ideas and projects” adopted by Israeli authorities.
The ministry also said the Palestinian people had a historical and legal right to establish an independent, sovereign state on their lands, based on relevant international laws.
“The Kingdom warns the international community against the Israeli occupation’s persistence in flagrant violations that undermine the foundations of international legitimacy, blatantly violate the sovereignty of states, and threaten regional and global security and peace,” the ministry said.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi also condemned the remarks, calling them a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law, and a blatant attack on the sovereignty and unity of Arab states. He warned that such statements pose a direct threat to regional and global stability and reaffirmed the GCC’s categorical rejection of any attempts to undermine the territorial integrity of Arab countries.
Albudaiwi urged the international community to take a firm stand against what he described as provocative declarations and to protect the region from measures that could inflame tensions and jeopardize prospects for a just and comprehensive peace.
The Arab League also denounced Netanyahu’s comments “in the strongest terms,” describing them as a dangerous disregard for the sovereignty of Arab nations and a serious threat to collective Arab security. It said the rhetoric reflected “expansionist and aggressive intentions” rooted in “colonial delusions,” and called on the UN Security Council to act decisively to confront such extremist declarations.
Additionally, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned and rejected the statements made by Netanyahu considering them a dangerous and provocative escalation.
The official spokesperson of the Ministry, Sufyan Qudah, said these “absurd delusions” reflected in the statements of Israeli officials will not affect Jordan and the Arab countries, nor will they detract from “the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people”.
Qurdah also emphasized the extremism reflected in the Israeli government’s statements and joined his counterparts in calling upon the international community to mobilize and stop the incitement against regional stability, international peace and security.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Wednesday it had approved the framework for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip. The plan comes days after Israel’s security cabinet called for the capture of Gaza’s largest city. Israel’s 22-month war on the territory has killed more than 61,000 people and created dire humanitarian conditions.
